Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. He found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

Friday June 15, 2012, 2:53 pm
Excerpt: " 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism  Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights  Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of need. The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause  The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military  Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism  The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media  Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security  Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined  Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the governments policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected  The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed  Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts  Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment  Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption  Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections  Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Friday June 15, 2012, 2:58 pm
fascism is the marriage between the government and corporate power according to the first fascist dictator; B. Mussolini...So in other words it is the majority of government in 90% of countries in the world...they own us...

Friday June 15, 2012, 6:29 pm
Thanks for sharing Barbara. Many of us have been making these very points on threads on many sites as well as care2 for a very long time now.... but as expected, there are those [especially those on 'the right' ] who refuse to see these very points come about... much less accept these things about our//their very own nation.

The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism -- ownership of government by an individual, by a group.
(Franklin D. Roosevelt)

Friday June 15, 2012, 6:50 pm
That being said, I guess it is normal for those who did support the 'coup' in the U.S. that took place during the years of 2000 and 2008. None the less, it happened and to continue to not acknowledge this by pretending that's it's the presidents fault that things are the way they are now is certainly not helping to solve what happened...while they continue to support the very people,especially those on the 'right' in Congress and administrative positions on all levels,Fed./Sate/local who were at the helm of the 'coup' during those years and who are still in office and offices through out the nation. Is it too late for the masses to wake up to what happened,especially during those years, I do wonder. Even if they do, what can be done now ? To simply change presidents isn't the answer or even a first step,in my opinion. It didn't happen over night and logically it can not be stopped or changed over-night so ...what now ? Unit, yes...and then.......? Can changing the direction of our economy and the choke hold that Multinational Companies now have on our government [s] be undertaken by the people ...if so..how ? I think many have good ideas about how to do it and for one I'd really like to hear from others as to theirs.

Friday June 15, 2012, 7:05 pm
KIt, you and I posted the same article recently under different titles that I believe is a good start...that's already in progress by individuals and groups that are uniting...The story/article appeared under the title "The Rise of the New Economy Movement" on alternet, or at least that is where I found the story,which I am sure you recall. I think everyone remotely interested in 'how to start the process' to resist and bring about changing what has happened to our system of governing should read it....all four pages of it.

Friday June 15, 2012, 9:47 pm
It is time we all take a very discerning look at what our Presidents actually do, the same goes for Congress, the Senate and SCOTUS.
They are not serving the people, the U.S. Constituion nor anythng other than furthering the causes of Fascist bankers and corporations.
If we keep on doing what we have always done, we will keep on getting what we have always gotten.
I cannot, in good conscience, keep 'voting and hoping' when I already know the candidates will not keep their promises. A definite stand must be taken, with a definite penalty attached for the elected candidates who fail to pursue their stated goals.
A Liar is a Liar, no matter how amiable his personality or plausible his excuses for failure to deliver.
Am now convinced BOTH major political parties are Fascist in nature.
U.S. government structure is a four legged stool.
1. Government
2. Banking
3. Corporate
4. Religion
The only way the NWO Fsscist platform can stand is through the social support from these four groups, supporting and reinforcing one another.
If the Fascists win, the people lose. Not just today, FOREVER.
Fascists are so close to conquering the United States that they are in a desperate drive to push us past the point of no return.
Knowing how delicate their grasp on power is at this time is key to knocking a couple of legs out from under their platform.
1. Vote Independent
2. Move your accounts and credit lines (credit cards) to local banks.
3. Shop at locally owned stores. Invest in local business, not Wall Street.
4. Consult with your church leaders, if they support the Facists' agenda, change your place of worship.

We can sign petiions, write letters and boycott products until the cows come home but nothing will bring change faster than attacking the Fascist movement on all four fronts simultaneously.

This will cause infighting between the different Fascist factions, divide and conquer the Fascists.

This way we give up none of the conveniences, necessities and comforts of life. We simply choose to become a part of the solution and leave the problem behind.

Spread the word, encourage your friends and family to take steps that will save America. Worry not about dire warnings from the Fascists, they will try to convince you the 'greater of two evils' will take control of America. This is a lie, we will take control back from BOTH those Fascist evils. There is another path, it is up to us to define it and demand OUR government 'stay THAT course'.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Fear not the greater evil, all evil will melt away in the face of a united people. Being united is the key to our victory. If we stand united others will notice and consider joining us. This is our opportunity to encourage the hopeless, fearful citizens to join us. There is strength in numbers, if we each recruited four friends and asked them to do the same, we cold chnge the outcome of the next election. We do not have to vote for manipulators and deceivers, we can refuse. I hope Americans have the courage to think for themselves and act on their beleifs.
The path we are on leads to death and destruction of our families.
Join me in rejecting the Fascist offering, the Lesser Of Two Evils.
We deserve the 'Greater of Goods' as a model for choosing our governing officias, we can demand it and get it. The process starts inside your heart with resolve and independent actions in your own life.
Together - We can do it!

Saturday June 16, 2012, 6:30 am
An interesting article, having studied Germany during the 1930s until the end of WWII, as part of a history project at college, I identify many of the traits mentioned. I am not sure that they are exclusive to fascist states however, a lot of the criteria could be applied to the USSR, especially during the time of Stalin and to the China of today. Maybe it is more accurate to say that they are indicatve of a style of certain style of Government not simply fascist ones, this might allow us to better understand what we should be seeking to avoid for our own states.